Official Launch Event for the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Future Digital Manufacturing
Message from the Director – Professor Dimitrios Georgakopoulos
The $17.5M ARC Industry Transformation Research Hub for Future Digital Manufacturing was formally opened on Friday March 13, 2025. The Hub will transform the manufacturing industry by developing novel Digital Twins, AI and Open Platforms for digital manufacturing that provide for dramatic improvement in productivity, resilience, and competitiveness. Swinburne University of Technology leads the Hub consortium that is comprised by 7 universities (including The University of Queensland, RMIT University, University of Sydney, Macquarie University) and 10 industry partners (currently including Corex Australia, Cablex Pty Ltd, Sutton Tools Pty Ltd, Balluff APAC, Ezy Chef Pty Ltd, Sysbox Pty Ltd, Baosteel Group Co., MEMKO, Australian Innovation Labs, and Logan City Council).
The Hub opening was successful due to highly informative presentations, high attendance, and expert coordination by Karen Hapgood – DVCR of Swinburne. The insightful keynote speech by Pascale Quester – the VC of Swinburne, explained the benefits of digital manufacturing research, and stated the university’s support for working with the industry and the training opportunities for early career researchers and students. Alison Ross – Executive director of Australian Research Council, presented ARC’s perspective in supporting research and training in industrial transformation. Senator Raff Ciccone – the Deputy Government Whip in the Senate speaks, outlined the importance of sovereign manufacturing for Australia and the needs for improving productivity, resiliency, and competitiveness. In my Hub Director’s talk, I focused on the Hub research opportunities and expected outcomes and also outlined the Hub’s capability to achieve these together with the industry. Finally, the Hub’s industry partners Gavin Clifford – CEO & Managing Director Ezy Chef, and Ashley Tuck– General Manager, MEMKO Aviation, Aerospace and Defence, spoke about the importance of the Hub’s research outcomes for their companies’ strategy and their products/services.
The Hub’s opening was well attended by 150 delegates that include the Hub’s program leaders (Prem Prakash Jayaraman, Helen Huang, Albert Zomaya, and Zahir Tari); the Hub’s Business Manager (Faten Zaibak); other chief investigators from our partner universities (including Yang Xiang, Archie Chapman, Abhik Banerjee, Kanchana Thilakarathna, Yali (Lily) Li, Chi Tsun (Ben) Cheng Chang RMIT, Suresh Palanisamy, and Amirali K. Gostar); executives or principal Investigators from our industry partners in the event (including Gavin Clifford, Ashley Tuck, Peter Sutton, Martin Edanad, Simon Whiteley, Lin Hi, and Jim Wallace). Many others senior leaders from the manufacturing community also participated, including perspective industry partners, leaders of industry associations, as well as Research and School leaders from partner universities. Thank you all for joining us in the formal opening of the Hub. Please stay connected for the next steps!
To download the Launch Booklet click here!
Senator Ciccone, Pascale Quester, Alison Ross, Karen Hapgood, Dimitrios Georgakopoulos & Prem Prakash Jayaraman
Prof. Pascal Questers speech was met with great applause!
150 Delegates attended the launch ceremony
Highlighted how he is making a positive difference in people’s lives through Texture Modified Food Solutions through research innovation.
Highlighted their Hub project, NIFTI-SMART: Secure Multi-Sensor Analytics and Real-Time Twin for Aerospace Reliability and Testing.
Highlighted the research opportunities, expected outcomes, and new partnership opportunities.
Prem Prakash Jayaraman, Zahir Tari, Faten Zaibak, Helen Huang, Dimitrios Georgakopoulos & Albert Zomaya
Prem Prakash Jayaraman & Dimitrios Georgakopoulos
A robust discussion took place, and many new connections were made at the networking event.
